Man, 25, accused of having sex with girl, 13

Saturday

May 3, 2014 at 8:24 PM

A 25-year-old man was arrested late Friday night, accused of having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

By Austin L. MillerStaff writer

A 25-year-old man was arrested late Friday night, accused of having sex with a 13-year-old girl.Officials said the girl’s mother could not find her teenage daughter and when the teen was eventually found, the daughter said she had been in the company of Jose Copto-Morales. She alleges the two had sex.The incident was then reported to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.Detective Erik Dice was assigned the case, and officials were able to find Copto-Morales.Copto-Morales denied having sex with the girl, but he was arrested and charged with lewd and lascivious battery and taken to the Marion County Jail.Locally, Copto-Morales does not have any criminal record.